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The Staten Island will offer booze to travelers on the ferry starting Friday after a seven year dry spell.

Beer, hard seltzers and canned cocktails will be available from concession stands on the fleet’s MV SSG Michael H. Ollis beginning Friday, and will expand to two more vessels — the the Sandy Ground and Dorothy Day — in the next few weeks, the Department of Transportation said. 

Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani will announce new bike lanes and pedestrian access near the Brooklyn Bridge.

Follow The Post’s live updates on New York politics for the latest news:

Mamdani's unveils 'Mayor's Municipal Madness' competition with Liberty player Tasha Cloud

By David Propper

Mayor Zohran Mamdani unveiled his administration’s own version of March Madness on Friday with an assist from New York Liberty player Tasha Cloud.  

Called the Mayor’s Municipal Madness competition in a riff off the NCAA basketball tournament, city residents can vote on which “tiny annoyance” like a broken water fountain or missing waste basket Mamdani will personally help fix in a neighborhood on the 100th day of his tenure in office.

A bracket includes four sections: Park fixes, street fixes, sports fixes and community space fixes.

Other examples include repairing fencing in Morris Park, replacing a faded street sign at Prince’s Bay, painting a handball wall in East Harlem and painting a public pool interior in Highbridge, as well as 12 more needed repairs.  

Mamdani made the announcement in a social media video while helping to repair a broken basketball hoop with Cloud.

“And remember there’s no problem too small,” Mamdani said, as Cloud added, “no task too big” before the mayor cut back in, “for government to solve.”

Round one of voting starts Friday with the competition concluding on April 3.  

All of the minor problems are expected to be fixed within Mamdani’s first 100 days with him handling the winner on day 100. 

Mayor Mamdani announces new bike lane and pedestrian access expansion near Brooklyn Bridge

By Matthew Fischetti

The Big Apple will be kicking off a new street redesign project to improve bike and pedestrian access to the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan, city officials announced Friday.

New renderings of the project show that an additional bike connection will run along Centre Street in Lower Manhattan at the entrance of the bridge.

The project, set to start in the spring, will also double the width of the southern crosswalk between the bridge and City Hall Park for pedestrian access, officials said.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani said construction will be completed before the FIFA World Cup tournament in June — tying the upgraded bike lane to the massive influx of over a million tourists expected to come to the tri-state area for the event.

New Yorkers, join us in the first ever Mayor’s Municipal Madness: a competition of city fixes where everyone wins.

City workers fix thousands of tiny annoyances every year, from broken basketball rims to bike path bumps. This year, we’re highlighting 16 of those fixes.

From the… pic.twitter.com/7HofozBS5D

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) March 27, 2026

“Whether you’re driving, walking or biking across the Brooklyn Bridge, you deserve to get where you’re going with ease and without fear," Mamdani said, announcing the redesign alongside his Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn.

"This new design will better protect cyclists and pedestrians as we prepare to welcome the world for the FIFA World Cup — and show that our streets truly reflect the best of New York City," he said.

Nearly 30,000 pedestrians and over 5,600 cyclists use the Brooklyn Bridge on a daily basis, according to the mayor's office.

NYC lawmaker wants to force Big Apple to go dark after 11 p.m. — and critics say it’s a criminal’s dream bill

By Carl Campanile and Natalie O'Neill

Critics say she’s not the brightest bulb!

A state lawmaker has a dim-witted plan that would force the Empire State Building and nearly all of New York City to go dark after 11 p.m. — but detractors say the plan would let criminals run wild under the cloak of night.

The “Dark Skies Protection Act,” sponsored by Manhattan Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, would require Big Apple businesses and residents to hit the off switch between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. to save energy, help migratory birds and avoid “light pollution,” according to the proposed bill.

The goal is to “preserve and enhance the state’s dark sky while promoting safety for people, birds and other wildlife, conserving energy and reducing our carbon footprint, and preserving the aesthetic qualities of the night sky,” the legislation declares.

READ MORE

NYC bill allowing protest ‘buffer zones’ around houses of worship passes with veto-proof majority

By Matthew Fischetti , Carl Campanile , Craig McCarthy and Matt Troutman

They’re in the zone.

The NYPD will be allowed to set up buffer zones around synagogues and other houses of worship under a controversial bill passed by the City Council Thursday — despite fierce opposition from Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s DSA allies.

Julie Menin speaks at the City Hall Council Chambers on 3/26/2026.
City Council Speaker Julie Menin introduced a controversial bill to create buffer zones around houses of worship. NYC Council

The dramatic vote sends the legislation championed by Council Speaker Julie Menin — who introduced the bill after anti-Israel protesters swarmed synagogues — to Mamdani’s desk with a veto-proof 44-5 majority.

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Mamdani out with slick new video pushing again his signature rent freeze

By Craig McCarthy

Mayor Zohran Mamdani is trying again to tap into his signature slick social media skills in an attempt to motivate and educate the masses on the historically boring Rent Guidelines Board process.

As the young mayor spent the day out of the public limelight, ducking the media — Mamdani instead tried to make his pitch to New Yorkers to get involved with the annual rent stabilization process.

"If you're a tenant, it's important the RBG hears from you on how rent or lack there of would affect you," he said in the minute-and-a-half vid.

"And if you're a landlord, the RGB wants to know the costs that go into owning and operating a rent stabilized building," he added, trying to appeal to the owners he railed about on the campaign trail.

But Hizzoner didn't stop from putting his own position on the process near the end.

You probably know how i feel about what should happen with the rent," he added.

Mamdani made 'Freeze the Rent' a key pillar of his campaign last year.

Who decides whether or not stabilized rents are raised? Meet the Rent Guidelines Board.

Here's what you should know about the board and how to make your voice heard. pic.twitter.com/wNQyfEWYvl

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) March 26, 2026

Anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil testifies in surprise briefing on Islamophobia ahead of antisemitism bill vote: sources 

By Craig McCarthy

Anti Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil and a scholar married to the daughter of a former Hamas official were invited to testify about Islamophobia on the same day the council is set to vote on a suite of legislation combatting antisemitism

The “expert briefing” on Islamophobia was sponsored by Councilmember Shahana Hanif and Shekar Krishnan who sources close to Julie Menin said did not notify the council speaker about the briefing. 

The council is slated to vote on a suite of legislation to combat hate and antisemitism, including a bill that would create a buffer zone for protests around houses of worship after troubling instances of synagogues being protested in the Big Apple. 

Columbia University Apartheid Divest leader Mahmoud Khalil(wearing yellow jacket), at a news conference with Jewish Barnard and Columbia students who were detained during a New York Police Department sweep of the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.
Columbia University Apartheid Divest leader Mahmoud Khalil(wearing yellow jacket), at a news conference with Jewish Barnard and Columbia students who were detained during a New York Police Department sweep of the "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. James Keivom

“She was outraged they would do this on day of the vote to combat antisemitism,” the source said. 

City councilmembers are allowed to utilize these rooms whenever they want and do not need permission to book. 

The briefing also invited Dr. Badar Suri Khan, a Georgetown scholar who is reportedly married to the daughter of former Hamas advisor Ahmed Yousef.

A Biden appointed judge ruled against his deportation last year after DHS tried to eliminate the Indian national’s student visa over his Hamas connections and allegedly spreading antisemitism online. 

Other sources told The Post that the Council Committee to Combat Hate moved their meeting on buffer zone bill to Council Chambers from a hearing room at 250 Broadway to avoid having to deal with folks at the Islamophobia forum. 

Councilmembers Hanif and Krishnan did not respond to a request for comment. 

Nearly 10% of rent-stabilized NYC buildings are underwater — as new Mamdani board set to pass freeze

By Matthew Fischetti

Nearly 10% of rent-stabilized properties in New York City are run down, it was revealed Thursday -- as landlords claimed Mayor Zohran Mamdani's promised rent freeze will only make it harder to get those units up to snuff.

Members of the city's Rent Guidelines Board said at their first meeting of the year Thursday they expect to approve the rent freeze in May, fulfilling a key campaign promise of the new, democratic socialist mayor.

Brian Hoberman, the RGB co-research director, told the board that 9.2% of rent-stabilized buildings were considered distressed, slightly fewer than last year's 9.3%.

"Since 1990, when 13.9% of stabilized properties were considered distressed, the proportion of distressed buildings declined to as low as 4.9% in 2016," said Hoberman.

"Subsequently, distress rates rose. So by 2022, the distressed rate was up to 9.8% and since falling over the last two years to 9.2%," he said.

A rally before the Mamdani administration's "Rental Ripoff" hearing at Fordham University in The Bronx on March 11, 2026. Getty Images

Hoberman claimed that: "Revenues generally exceed operating costs, generating funds that could be used for mortgage payments, improvements and pre-tax profit."

But Christine Smyth, an owner representative on the board who was appointed by former Mayor Eric Adams, argued the financial state of these buildings was much more dire.

"We can't just look at that mean or median numbers that's going to not tell us what's going on at the tails," she said, noting that the COVID pandemic hurt landlords so badly, that they are still just breaking even.

The tally only includes nearly 18,000 of the 50,000 buildings since ones with 11 units or fewer are not required to report finances to the city.

The distressing stat comes after Mamdani campaign that was based around freezing the rent for New Yorkers is stabilized apartments.

The board is set to cast its first vote on the freeze in early May.

Former Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration froze the rent three times during his tenure starting in 2015 — just as the percentage of distressed properties started to tick up each year.

De Blasio heralded the board's decision in 2017 after the two consecutive rent freezes, saying, "I’m very proud that the board made that decision.”

“That’s never been done in history before," he said, adding, “That happened under this administration because I instructed the Rent Guidelines Board — I name the members — and I instructed them to not follow the biases of the past, but be respectful of the needs of tenants and not just the needs of landlords, and look at all the facts."

READ MORE

Mamdani admin only serves up $200M in savings — far short of $1.7B target amid massive budget shortfall

By Craig McCarthy , Matthew Fischetti , Hannah Fierick and Matt Troutman

Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration served up a measly $200 million in proposed savings Wednesday – far short of his promised $1.7 billion – as his budget boss got a grilling over the massive shortfall.

Despite not providing the goods, Mamdani released one of his characteristically slick social media videos touting how much he’s cutting waste by pretending to find excess government money in couch cushions and book shelves.

Mayor Mamdani holding money in a video about cutting waste to help close new york budget gap.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced by a slick social media video that his administration found $200 million it can cut from the city’s budget. @NYCMayor / X

While facing questions in the real world, Hizzoner still contended that officials had hit the $1.7 billion in cuts he pledged to help close a massive budget gap, but didn’t actually provide any proof.

He also said New Yorkers may have to wait till the end of April — when the mayor’s executive budget is due — to actually see all the savings that were proposed.

READ MORE

John Catsimatidis had 'very good meeting' with Mayor Mamdani

By Hannah Fierick

Grocery magnate and outspoken critic of the young socialist mayor, John Catsimatidis, said he had "very good meeting" — and offered up his advice on running food stores.

"I told him, if he needs to know anything, we are the experts," Cats told The Post. "The only price I charge is a cup of coffee as a consulting fee, seriously."

The billionaire, who runs the Gristedes and D'Agostino grocery chains, said he and Mayor Mamdani spoke about "a lot of things" during the 45-minute sitdown that also included First Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan and Chief of Staff Elle Bisgaard-Church.

The billionaire has made no secret of how he felt about Mamdani during the election campaign. Stephen Yang for NY Post

But he said increasing taxes was not discussed.

"My concern is we don’t want anyone to leave the city," he said, adding, "We didn’t get into any details."

Mamdani has threatened a 10% property tax hike to offset what he claims is a $5.4 billion budget, unless Gov. Kathy Hochul comes through with a slew of new taxes, including hefty fees to any person or family making more than $1 million.

Catsimatidis was one of the most outspoke critics of Mamdani and his plan to open city-run grocery stores, threatening to close up shop and leave the city if he was elected.

"He knew my mission was not to get him elected," Catsimatidis said about the tension.

"I invited him to speak at the Police Athletic League’s luncheon," he added.

The fundraisers are attended by a number of movers and shakers in Big Apple politics and prior administration officials have often been the keynote speakers.

Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore recently spoke at the luncheon, where the proceeds help fund after-school programs and other community initiatives.

Mamdani jokes about getting yelled at by unhinged New Yorker who BIT one of his staffers

By Hannah Fierick

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani laughed off an unrelenting heckler during a press conference on Wednesday.

Hizzoner fielded repeated yells throughout the event from known heckler Raul Rivera, who was arrested in June of last year for allegedly biting one of Mamdani's own campaign staffers.

A protester heckling Mamdani during his press conference on affordably housing in Brooklyn on March 25, 2026. Paul Martinka for New York Post

Mamdani eventually acknowledged the distracting commotion and playfully tied it to the affordability crisis.

“I want that man to be able to afford to keep living in New York City, because the day that I don't hear him yelling at me, it means he got priced out of this place,” Mamdani joked to the crowd.

"We need to make a city that is affordable enough to yell at your politicians," he added. "If it's not that city it's not a city I want to live in."

Mamdani taps street vendor activist to run new agency

By Craig McCarthy

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has appointed street vendor activist, Carina Kaufman-Gutierrez, as the new head of the Office of Street Vendor Services.

"Together with street vendors, interagency partners, community-based organizations, and local stakeholders at the table, we can build a more vibrant, and equitable street vending ecosystem across the five boroughs," said Carina Kaufman-Gutierrez, Executive Director of the Office of Street Vendor Services.

The Office of Street Vendor Services was created by the NYC Council and will operate under the Department of Small Business Services.

The council boosted the number of vendor permits last December in an attempt to address a longtime complaint of shortages leading to unlicensed vending.

Kaufman-Gutierrez helped fight for the changes as part of the Street Vendor Project with the Urban Justice Center, where she served as a co-director

GOP bigwig, John Catsimatidis, plans to discuss 'everything' with Mayor Mamdani

By Craig McCarthy

Republican power player and grocery magnate, John Catsimatidis, told The Post on Wednesday that nothing will be off limits during his sitdown with Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

The two plan to meet up for a closed press event at 2:30 p.m.

Cats said "everything" was on the table when asked what he planned to discuss.

The billionaire, who runs the Gristedes and D'Agostino grocery chains, had been an outspoken critic of Mamdani and his plan to create city-run food stores.

But since taking office, the two have created somewhat of an unlikely connection, chatting often.

"We want our city to succeed, so whatever we can do to help our city succeed," Cats said outside City Hall before the meeting. "Listen, we offer suggestions... we're going to give suggestions and whatever it is, it is."

He arrived with a copy of his book — "How Far Do You Want to Go?" — and said he planned to give it to the mayor.

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